itchy red spots on buttocks, thighs and feet...

[dolally]

any one any idea what it could be? I've just had a very sore throat and cold.. can it be connected?

Bump anyone? I think it might be hives ..anyone else had hives related to a virus? I've heard it's possible.

erm, I think I'll just pop over to NHS Direct online..!

hives arent red IIRC. They itch and make the skin red but the lumps are white...like nettle rash.

Could it be chickenpox?

did you have antibiotics? could be a reaction to that?

streptococcal rash? I get these with a sore throat, and have to have mega antibiotics

It does sound a bit like urticaria to me (what is sometimes called hives, the centre of the spot is white to start with but then the area becomes very red and inflamed). Images here . If it's that try an antihistamine and something soothing like calamine cream, Eurax or E45 itch relief cream. You could also try a steroid cream. Did it flare up quite quickly?

Ds has got Coxsackie virus, which the GP says is a catch-all name for this type of thing. Sounds similar. Don't say the name too slowly, though, especially if you're a new boy at a boys' secondary school.

can't be chicken pox, thanks for ideas though.... and what's so weird is is was just on butt, thighs and around my ankles, although now a have a few wheals at the back of my arms. The wheals start off pale and then go red when I scratch. Didn't have antibiotics but did take aspirin for my horrendous sore throat. It seems that loads of things can set it off. (now i've looked at NHS Direct)

Do i have to schlep down to the docs? Do you think? Really don't have time.

I would ring NHS Direct, and talk them through it. They may get strident about you going to see your GP, though.

Sounds a lot like urticaria to me. Factsheet here , which says it can be caused by a viral infection. If you're concerned ring NHS Direct, but if it is urticaria it's usually not serious and it tends to clear up quite quickly. There's not much you can do about it though, and it is horrendously itchy.

Go and have a cool bath and see if it goes away. Try not to scratch.

Dont think you will need the drs and it will have disappeared by the morning.

Interestingly, now I think about it(!) I had urticaria and the only thing the dr said to avoid was aspririn as it flares it up!

Definitely hives IMHO!!

could be a skin infection in which case you'll need anti-biotics. sometimes, you can get one when there's another infection/virus somewhere else.